Species Conservation

Why species conservation?

The Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund grant for the long-term monitoring of the threatened Litoria myola (Kuranda Tree Frog) follows on from previous grants to support habitats for endangered species in the Kuranda region such as the Mobile Muster. A Community Action Grant from Kuranda Envirocare has also been successful in achieving a Caring For Our Country (Aust’ Govt’) Community Environment Grant 2013-2014 called the Frog Friendly Face for our Local Jum Rum Creek. This project will provide further restoration work to Jum Rum Creek. It will also facilitate an education program for local landholders who may not be aware of the frog’s critically endangered status and will highlight activities that may contribute to frog decline such as sediment runoff or feral animal impacts. A frog information booklet is now available and with this, landholders can apply to have their properties assessed for inclusion on a local register of frog friendly properties.

Why are we doing it?

In a report on the disappearances of frogs in Australia, Campbell (1999) [link here to pdf] estimates that 13% (27 species) of Australia’s frog fauna are threatened, and of these, 8 species may have disappeared altogether. An additional 14 species give cause for concern. For most of these species, the causes of decline are not known or are poorly understood. Currently, we know little about what components of stream health impact on frogs in this region or in Australian streams more broadly.

﻿It is also recommended that: ﻿ o A study of aquatic pollutants, particularly herbicides used near water bodies o Record the distribution, abundance and conservation status of insufficiently known species o Research the impacts of introduced fish and other feral animal predators o Climate change impacts o Captive breeding, successful rearing and husbandry techniques o Promote public involvement and support interest from amateur groups o The creation of an atlas and national working group of frog experts and the public to compile a national record of frog data and locations o Determine if there are causal factors common to these declines and if any of these operate together o A national working group for frog conservation is established.This is why Kuranda Envirocare has made frog habitats a priority for riparian restoration and stream health.

This is why Kuranda Envirocare has made frog habitats a priority for riparian restoration and stream health.

References: Campbell, A., (Ed.). 1999, Decline and Disapperances of Australian Frogs, Environmental Australia, Canberra. Hoskins, CJ. 2007, Description, biology and conservation of a new species of Australian tree frog (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae: Litoria) and an assessment of the remaining populations Litoria genimaculata Horst, 1883: systematic and conservation implications of an unusual speciation event., Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol 91, pp 549-563.